Aggie_Ama
11-21-2010, 09:36 PM
I started my first mountain bike half-marathon this weekend, the course was really well suited for me with just a bit of technical and some good recovery spots. It was a two lap format, first lap I felt like I was on top of things drinking plenty, alternating water with electrolytes, taking gel and not over doing it. Second lap I felt find until about 2 miles in when I slammed into "the wall". I started feeling nauseated and was "pedaling squares". I knew the nausea meant dehydration was coming strong. Water felt like it was solid when I tried to get more down. I had to get off on things I can make any day and was standing taking rests at the top of hills wondering why I was so stupid. I got to the neutral water at mile 21 area and pulled the plug. I still had 8-9 miles to go (not sure how accurate my Garmin is) and one more pretty technical section. My first lap took two hours, the first 6 or so miles to the water on the second lap took 1.5 hours. My pace was only going to go down and the stress on my body with it.
This race was contested at Palo Duro Canyon, although it was only upper 70's it felt much warmer, the air is drier and it is about 2,000 feet higher than my home elevation. We think the canyon landscape made the heat seem more intense but it could have been our perception. My teammates and husband said I did the right thing, if I had gone into full dehydration I might have injured myself on trail. Could I have continued? Maybe, I don't know my body that great yet. My longest race to date was 10 miles, so this was a huge challenge. I am disappointed but not defeated, I am hoping to learn from this.
I think I went out too hard on the first lap, didn't eat enough and didn't drink enough. Maybe colder water would have helped. I probably should have drank more the days before the race. I got excellent sleep the night before but was having trouble getting breakfast in, I think it was nerves. The course was made scary by a mass start of hundreds of riders, I am used to wave starts. So I need to remember with the start and the pace to ride my race, what others are doing I can't change. I feel like I quit but I know I did the safe thing, there will be other races and this should be a tool for future success!
This race was contested at Palo Duro Canyon, although it was only upper 70's it felt much warmer, the air is drier and it is about 2,000 feet higher than my home elevation. We think the canyon landscape made the heat seem more intense but it could have been our perception. My teammates and husband said I did the right thing, if I had gone into full dehydration I might have injured myself on trail. Could I have continued? Maybe, I don't know my body that great yet. My longest race to date was 10 miles, so this was a huge challenge. I am disappointed but not defeated, I am hoping to learn from this.
I think I went out too hard on the first lap, didn't eat enough and didn't drink enough. Maybe colder water would have helped. I probably should have drank more the days before the race. I got excellent sleep the night before but was having trouble getting breakfast in, I think it was nerves. The course was made scary by a mass start of hundreds of riders, I am used to wave starts. So I need to remember with the start and the pace to ride my race, what others are doing I can't change. I feel like I quit but I know I did the safe thing, there will be other races and this should be a tool for future success!